ction of the penguin colony, the noise from which grew louder
and louder as they advanced, until it culminated in a regular ear-
deafening chorus.

When they had reached the distance of about a quarter of a mile, they
came to a closely grown thicket, principally composed of a species of
buckthorn tree that grew to the height of some thirty feet although of
very slender trunk, underneath which was a mass of tangled grass and the
same sort of debris from the cliff as that whereon their hut stood. The
place was overgrown with moss and beautiful ferns, while several
thrushes were to be seen amongst the branches of the trees just like
those at home, although the brothers did not think they sang as sweetly:
they whistled more in the way of the blackbird. The ground here, too,
was quite honeycombed with the burrows of the little petrels, and into
these their footsteps broke every moment. It was odd to hear the
muffled chirp and feel the struggling birds beneath their feet as they
stepped over the grass-grown soil. The ground had not the slightest
appearance of being undermined by the mole-like petrels, its hollowness
being only proved when it gave way to the tread; although, after the
first surprise of the two young fellows at thus disturbing the tenants
of the burrows, they walked as "gingerly" as they could, so as to avoid
hurting the little creatures. The birds, however, seemed too busy with
their domestic concerns to take any notice of them.

After passing through the strip of wood, which was not of very extensive
dimensions, Fritz and Eric found the ground on the other side level and
pretty free from vegetation. This open land was just at the angle
between the cliffs, occupying a space of perhaps a couple of acres,
exactly as the Tristaner had told them; so, here they began at once
their operations for laying out their projected garden, which was to be
the first task they had to accomplish before settling down, now that
they had been saved the trouble of building a house to live in.

Eric, impetuous as usual, wanted to dig up and plant the entire lot; but
Fritz was more practical, thinking it the wisest plan not to attempt too
much at once.

"No," said he, "we had better begin with a small portion at first; and
then, when we have planted that, we can easily take in more land. It
won't be such easy work as you think, laddie!"

Accordingly, they marked out a space of about twenty yards square; and
then, the brot